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480 Days

Ponoka man sentenced in identity theft-related incidents

Jan 10, 2025 | 1:08 PM

A Ponoka man facing several identity theft-related charges has been sentenced to 16 months in jail.

Greg Thomas Allen, 36, was convicted of fraud over $5000, obtain/possess identity information, unauthorized possession of firearm, and instrument forge/falsify credit cards in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on Jan. 7, 2025.

As a result, he was sentenced to 480 days behind bars and given a five-year firearms prohibition.

He was charged after Alberta Mounties searched a local residence and seized a number of documents and items linked to suspected identity theft.

On Aug. 22, 2023, Smoky Lake RCMP received a report that multiple credit cards were taken out and a vehicle purchased under the victim’s name. Through investigation, Smoky Lake RCMP were able to identify the suspect involved in these offences as a Ponoka resident.

On Dec. 13, 2023, officers from Ponoka and Smoky Lake RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on 54 Street and 54 Avenue in Ponoka.

As a result of the search, officers located:

  • fabricated credit cards
  • printers with blank cheques loaded in them
  • Documents with other individual’s personal information including drivers licences
  • Stolen property
  • A firearm with an altered serial number and other weapons.

Greg Thomas Allen, a resident of Ponoka, was charged with:

  • Fraud
  • Identification theft
  • Identification fraud
  • Uttering ID in another’s name
  • Forgery
  • Trafficking or possession of a forged document
  • Possess prohibited firearm
  • Possess prohibited weapon
  • Careless use of weapon
  • Tampering with serial number of a firearm,
  • Possession of stolen property under $5000
  • Possession of Instruments for copying credit card.

“One person can cause a great deal of harm to a community,“ said Sgt. Tyler Epp of the Ponoka RCMP, following the arrest. “Mr. Allen is a repeat offender who in this case has victimized a great deal of people. The investigation continues as we continue to locate victims.”

Related: Ponoka man facing identity theft-related charges, scheduled for trial